What beautiful irony.

William Blake’s “Jerusalem”, the only hymn I’m aware of that denounces the evils of empire and the ‘Satanic’ industrial revolution, has been banned from Southwark Cathedral. Admirers say Blake’s words were an attack on 19th century Britain’s ‘military-industrial complex’ and England’s worldwide imperialism. But the dean of Southwark Cathedral says the song is ‘too nationalistic’ and doesn’t glorify God.

The words to “Jerusalem” are taken from the preface to Blake’s “Milton.”

02 PREFACE.

03 The Stolen and Perverted Writings of Homer &
04 Ovid: of Plato & Cicero. which all Men ought to
05 contemn: are set up by artifice against the Sublime
06 of the Bible. but when the New Age is at leisure
07 to Pronounce: all will be set right: & those Grand
08 Works of the more ancient & consciously & profes-
09 -sedly Inspired Men. will hold their proper rank. &
10 the Daughters of Memory shall become the Daugh-
11 -ters of Inspiration. Shakspeare & Milton were
12 both curbd by the general malady & infection from
13 the silly Greek & Latin slaves of the Sword
14 Rouze up O Young Men of the New Age! set your
15 foreheads against the ignorant Hirelings! For
16 we have Hirelings in the Camp, the Court, & the Uni-
17 versity: who would if they could, for ever depress Ment
18 -al & prolong Corporeal War. Painters! on you I call!
19 Sculptors! Architects! Suffer not the fashonable Fools
20 to depress your powers by the prices they pretend to
21 give for contemptible works or the expensive adver
22 -tizing boasts that they make of such works; believe
23 Christ & his Apostles that there is a Class of Men
24 whose whole delight is in Destroying. We do not
25 want either Greek or Roman Models if we are but
26 just & true to our own Imaginations, those Worlds
27 of Eternity in which we shall live for ever; in
28 Jesus our Lord.

29 And did those feet in ancient time,
30 Walk upon Englands mountains green:
31 And was the holy Lamb of God,
32 On Englands pleasant pastures seen!

33 And did the Countenance Divine,
34 Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
35 And was Jerusalem builded here,
36 Among these dark Satanic Mills?

37 Bring me my Bow of burning gold:
38 Bring me my Arrows of desire:
39 Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold!
40 Bring me my Chariot of fire!

41 I will not cease from Mental Fight,
42 Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:
43 Till we have built Jerusalem,
44 In Englands green & pleasant Land.

45 Would to God that all the Lords people
46 were Prophets.
47 n Numbers XI. Ch 29. v.

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